Capt. John Hughes-Texas Ranger - El Paso, Texas
Capitan John Hughes - Guardabosques de Texas - El Paso, Texas

Capt. John Hughes-Texas Ranger - El Paso, Texas

In 1886 several horses were stolen from his and neighboring ranches. Hughes trailed the men for several months, killing some of them and capturing the rest. He returned the stolen horses to their owners. His feat gained the attention of not only the outlaws but also the Texas Rangers. In July 1887, Hughes helped Texas Ranger Ira Aten track down and kill escaped murderer Judd Roberts. In August 1887, Hughes was persuaded to join the Texas Rangers. He had risen to the rank of sergeant in Company D Frontier Battalion by 1893. When their Captain, Frank Jones, was killed in June 1893, Hughes was promoted to captain of Company D. For most of his career, Hughes served along the border of southwest Texas. In 1901, when the Frontier Battalion was abolished and the State Rangers created, John Hughes was selected as one of the four Captains of the new companies. He served until his retirement in 1915. During the 28 years he was a Ranger, Hughes dealt with a wide variety of cases including thefts at the Shafter silver mines, cattle rustlers, horse thieves, murders and even the Maher-Fitzsimmons prize fight. He was known as "the border boss." John Hughes never married. He spent his retirement years prospecting and traveling by automobile. He was also involved in the banking industry, becoming chairman of the board and largest stockholder of the Citizens Industrial Bank of Austin, but he continued to live in El Paso. In 1940 John R. Hughes received the Certificate of Valor, an award commemorating the the bravery of peace officers. He moved to Austin to live with a niece, and on 3 June 1947, after living through the end of the frontier and two world wars he committed suicide at the age of 92. He was buried in the State Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: El Paso County Historical Society

Reference ID: 013-1983-148

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

UTEP Coach Don "The Bear" Haskins

A stuffed bear poses next to a photograph of former UTEP Coach ...

President of UTEP With Teen El Paso & Miss Teen El Paso, Texas

President of UTEP Dr. Natalicio poses with Teen El Paso on the ...

Copper Plate from School of Mines

A plate consisting of 99.9% copper belonging to the old School ...

Visitors Celebrating UTEP's 100th Anniversary

Visitors celebrating UTEP's 100th anniversary at the grand ...

UTEP Cheerleaders Celebrating the Grand Opening

UTEP Cheerleaders Celebrating the Grand Opening of the Fifth ...

UTEP Cheerleaders Celebrating the Grand Opening

UTEP Cheerleaders Celebrating the Grand Opening of the Fifth ...

UTEP's Mascot Paydirt Pete

UTEP's Mascot Paydirt Pete and UTEP's cheerleaders celebrating ...

UTEP mascot Paydirt Playing Drums - El Paso, Texas

UTEP mascot Paydirt Playing Drums at the grand opening of the ...

UTEP Graduates Signing In

UTEP Graduates sign in their names before entering the Fifth ...

UTEP Musicians

UTEP Musicians pose for a photograph with the President of UTEP ...

UTEP Musicians

UTEP Musicians play at the grand opening of the Fifth Wall of ...

Celebrating a Hundred Years for UTEP

Celebrating a Hundred Years for UTEP.

Fourth Wall Of Giants - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Mayor John Cook cuts the ribbon for the grand opening - Fourth ...

Rebecca Whitaker and David Saucedo Greeting Mayor John Cook

Rebecca Whitaker and David Saucedo Greeting Mayor John Cook ...

Beginning Of the Light Procession -Santa Fe International Bridge

Beginning Of the Light Procession -Santa Fe International ...

Historians From Juarez-Grand Opening - Fourth Wall Of Giants

Historians From Juarez-during Grand Opening Fourth Wall Of ...

Matachini During The Ceremony - Fourth Wall Of Giants

Matachini During The Ceremony - Fourth Wall Of Giants

Luminaria - In Front Of The El Paso Museum Of History

Displayed in front of the El Paso Museum of History during ...

Timeline For The Fourth Wall Of Giant

Exhibit for the Fourth Wall Of Giants.

Mayor Cook, Julia Bussinger, First Lady and Juarez Historian

Mayor John Cook, Director Julia Bussinger of the El Paso Museum ...

During the Grand Opening-Fourth Wall Of Giants

During the Grand Opening-Fourth Wall Of Giants-visitors ...

Curator Barbara Angus Leads The Procession

Curator Barbara Angus Leads The Procession inside the museum.

Mata's Grocery Mural

My '77 Chevy next to Mata's Grocery Mural in Segundo Barrio.

home.search_collection